Cala would first appear in La Liga on 7 February 2010, again playing the entire game but now suffering a 2–1 defeat at Real Zaragoza.[3] In a streak that started on 10 April at Málaga CF, he scored in three consecutive matches (two wins and one loss), which was a club record for a defender.[4][5][6][7]
For the 2010–11 campaign, Cala was loaned to FC Cartagena.[8] He was regularly used by the second-tier team during his spell, making his official debut on 11 September in a 5–1 home victory over FC Barcelona B and finding the net in the game.[9]
On 5 July 2011, Cala signed a one-year loan deal with AEK Athens FC, where he reunited with former Sevilla boss – main squad and reserves – Manolo Jiménez, as well as teammate José Carlos.[10] He made 21 competitive appearances during his tenure, scoring on 30 October to conclude a 3–0 home win over Aris Thessaloniki F.C. in the Super League Greece.[11] During a match against Olympiacos F.C. two weeks before, he was involved in an altercation with François Modesto, who pulled his shorts down to reveal his briefs.[12]
On 7 February 2014, Cala signed for Premier League club Cardiff City on a 2+1⁄2-year deal, after terminating his link with Sevilla.[16] He made his debut for his new team eight days later, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 home loss against Wigan Athletic in the round of 16 of the FA Cup.[17] His maiden appearance in the league took place on the 22nd, but in another defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium, now at the hands of Hull City (0–4).[18]
Cala scored his first goal for the Bluebirds on 15 March 2014, but in a 2–1 loss at Everton.[19] His second came in an away victory over Southampton on 12 April, as he hit from long range for the game's only goal.[20] Fifteen days later he was sent off for the first time in his Cardiff career, during a 4–0 away defeat to Sunderland.[21]
Cala was released from his contract with immediate effect on 3 December 2014, having only made one appearance in the Championship that season. He had previously complained via Twitter for being sent to train with the club's academy.[22]
Granada and Getafe
After being strongly linked to Getafe CF, Cala signed a six-month contract with Granada CF on 28 January 2015.[23] On 28 May he was deemed surplus to requirements by new manager José Ramón Sandoval,[24] and subsequently left the club.
Cala agreed to a three-year deal with Getafe on 25 June 2015, also in the top flight.[25] The following 4 January, he scored his first Spanish League goal in over two years, equalising in a 2–1 away win against Sporting de Gijón.[26]
On 6 August 2016, Cala signed a season-long loan deal with FC Anzhi Makhachkala with an option of making the move permanent at the end of it.[27] Seven days later he announced his return through Instagram, alleging personal problems;[28] according to the Russian club's press release, he returned to Spain to care for his younger brother who was having health issues.[29]
Henan Jianye
Even though it had always been his intention to agreeing on terms for a new contract,[30] on 1 March 2018 Cala signed with Henan Jianye F.C. for a reported transfer fee of €1.5 million.[31] He made his debut in the Chinese Super League the following day, playing the entire 4–0 home loss to Tianjin Quanjian FC.
Las Palmas and Cádiz
On 7 July 2018, Cala joined UD Las Palmas from the Spanish second division.[32] He terminated his two-year contract the following 18 June,[33] and moved to Cádiz CF on a five-year deal on 17 July.[34] He netted twice in 27 matches for the latter in his first season, in a return to the top division after 14 years.[35][36]
On 4 April 2021, shortly after having opened the scoring at the Estadio Ramón de Carranza, Cala allegedly directed a racial slur at Mouctar Diakhaby, to which the entire Valencia CF squad responded by leaving the pitch in support of their teammate. After being informed by the referee that they would forfeit the game if it was not completed, they later returned to resume the match with the exception of Diakhaby, who urged them to play on without him and was replaced by Hugo Guillamón; Cádiz eventually won 2–1, with the winner being scored by Marcos Mauro, who had come on for Cala at half-time.[37][38][39] In a press conference held two days later, Cala strongly denied using any racist language towards Diakhaby, claiming he had simply asked him to "leave me in peace" and that the latter had misheard what the former said as a racial slur.[40] Valencia released a statement shortly afterwards, strongly condemning his response, and the following day the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed that the incident was now under formal investigation,[41] while no evidence of racial abuse was found in a separate investigation by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional.[42]
Cala missed the vast majority of the 2022–23 campaign, due to a serious knee injury. He asked to be unregistered, so that his team could sign another player in his position.[43]
Cala took as his nickname the maternal surname of his father, also named Juan, who was prominent in Lebrija's football scene. Together with two uncles, they set up a football school named Cala-Lebrija.[45]
Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[46]
^"Cala se va cedido al Cartagena" [Cala goes on loan to Cartagena] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
^Хуан Торрес Кала вернулся в Испанию [Juan Cala Torres returned to Spain] (in Russian). Anzhi Makhachkala. 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
